The Territorial Audit Court’s (CTC) damning assessment of the Tahitian Pearl Association of French Polynesia (TPAFP) reveals systemic mismanagement of public funds and governance failures that undermine its role as the sector’s representative body. Here are the critical findings:
1. Crisis of Representation
- Shrinking Membership: With only 117 members from 6 organizations (out of 349 professional licenses), the TPAFP fails to reflect the diversity of French Polynesia’s pearl industry.
- Legitimacy Gap: The association represents just 33% of eligible professionals, raising questions about its mandate to speak for the sector.
2. Governance Breakdown
- Dormant Decision-Making: Rare general assemblies and infrequent board meetings paralyze oversight.
- Unauthorized Spending: Major financial commitments were approved without proper governance review, violating basic fiscal controls.
3. Ethical Red Flags: Conflicts of Interest
- Self-Dealing Allegations: Procurement from companies owned by TPAFP board members circumvents fair competition.
- Lack of Transparency: No public disclosure of these transactions, eroding trust in financial stewardship.
4. Questionable Spending Practices
International Activities
- Unjustified Subsidies: Public funds flowed to partner associations in Hong Kong, Japan, and the U.S. without clear performance metrics.
- No Competitive Bidding: Contracts awarded via direct selection, violating procurement rules for public funds.
Local Operations
- Budget Overruns: Mission expenses exceeded projections with no documented justification.
- Opaque Contracting: Preferential treatment for select vendors contradicts principles of equitable access.
5. Urgent Reforms Demanded
The CTC mandates immediate action to:
✅ Broaden Membership – Ensure the association truly represents pearl industry stakeholders.
✅ Enforce Financial Controls – Require competitive bidding and independent audits.
✅ Eliminate Conflicts – Bar board members from benefiting from TPAFP contracts.
✅ Restore Transparency – Publish meeting minutes, budgets, and procurement records.
6. Implications: A Sector at Risk
The report exposes a crisis of confidence in the TPAFP’s ability to:
- Safeguard public funds (436 million FCFP since 2014)
- Effectively promote Tahitian pearls globally
- Maintain trust among farmers and exporters
Without rapid reform, the TPAFP risks becoming irrelevant—or worse, a liability to Polynesia’s pearl industry.
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